Metal bending pry tool



y 8 w, K. HAGERTY ETAL 5 METAL BENDING PRY TOOL File d Nov. 2, 1956 IN VEN TORS 8 M W H H K .m

MW H mmm A Mm METAL BENDING PRY TOOL William K. Hagerty, Alhambra, andCharles L. Hagerty,

' El Monte, Calif.

Application November 2, 1956, Serial No. 620,048

7 Claims. (Cl. 81-15) The invention relates to tools used by mechanicsin v United States Patent automobile body repair shops for straighteningout body metal and more particularly to an elongated bar type of toolknown as a pry tool.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pry tool of thecharacter described with which the user may with ease and facility andwhile working in a comfortable position, apply to the dented portion ofthe body to be straightened, and in a most'precise manner, a graduatedand full range of prying force as may be required to restore theoriginal shape of the metal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pry tool of thecharacter above which is so designed and functions as to be eifective invery tight and confined working spaces, therebysubstantially extendingthe useful application of a tool of this character to the straighteningout of automobile body metal.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a pry tool ofthe character described which is particularly adapted for production insets using different sizes of pry bars and with a desiredinterchangeability and coordinated use of the several parts, resultingin an economical set of tools having a wide range'of use.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a pry toolof the character described which 'is composed of a minimum number ofsimply yet sturdily formed parts designed to withstand the rugged use towhich they are put over a long and useful life.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the followingdescription of the preferred form of the invention which is illustratedin the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It isto be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by thesaid drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of theinvention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a pry bar forming of the set of thepresent invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a completev pry constructed inaccordance with the present invention but part , showing a differentsize pry bar forming part of the set.

a coordinated combination of a pair of pry bars forming the set. andwithone of such bars shown in position of use within a sectionvof anautomobile body.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the pry tool taken substantiallyonthe plane of line 66 of Figure 4 but {withthepry bar deleted and witha lever extension bar inserted,

The prytool of the present invention and as best illustool v trated inFigures 2 and 5 of the drawing consists, briefly, of an elongated bar 11having a prying end 12 and an opposite handle end 13 adapted forengagement in one hand of the user for positioning of the prying end 12in juxtaposition to a dented portion 14 of an automobile body 15 to bestraightened, a hand lever 16 mounted for longitudinal reciprocation onthe bar 11 to and from the handle end 13 and projecting laterally fromthe bar for engagement in and by the other hand of the user so as toalford a coordinated leveraging of the prying end 12 against the dentedportion 14; and means 18 for detachably fastening the hand lever inselected longitudinal position on the bar 11.

In order to afford an improved leveraging of the end 12 against thedented portion, the end 12 is preferably formed in a lateral offset orcurved, as here shown, from the length of the elongated bar 11. Also toprovide a most precise working of the body metal, the prying end 12 ispreferably pointed at its tip 21. Desirably also the length of the prybar 11 is tapered in cross-section, which tapering cooperates with thecurvature selected at the end 12 to permit the sliding of the hand lever16 over and around the tip onto and from the bar.

In order to best secure the hand lever 16 to the bar against relativerotation about the longitudinal axis of the bar, so that the lever maybe effective in applying rotary torque to the bar, the bar and lever arepreferably formed with a sliding polygonal interfit, which has thefurther important advantage of permitting selectable circumferentialpositioning of the lever on the bar with respect to the lateraldirection of offset of the prying end 12. This feature is most importantin enabling the tool to be used in certain confined spaces and is hereaccomplished by forming the bar 11 of polygonal (here square)cross-section, as seen in Figure 4, and by the provision in the base end23 of the lever 16 of a transverse opening 24 conforming in shape to thecross-section of the bar. Thus the opening 24 is formed with polygonalinternal walls which are placed in wall-to-wall sliding engagement withthe polygonal external walls of the bar 11 so as to positively preventrelative rotation.

A set screw 25 threaded through the lever end 23 and bearing against thebar 11, and preferably formed with a finger-engaging head 26 hereprovides the means 18 for detachably fastening the lever in its selectedlongitudinal position on the bar. The set screw may be advanced orretracted to grip the tapering cross-section of the bar 11 when thelever handle 16 is set at different points along the length of the bar.It will also be noted, with reference to Figure 2, that the length ofthe opening 24 is related to the curvature of the prying end 12 and thereduction in cross-section of the bar 11 so as to enable the lever 16 tobe slid off from the bar at its tip 21 or reinserted into the bar bythreading the tip 21 through the opening'24. 1

As a further important feature of the present invention, the hand lever16 is formed with a socket 27 opening to the outer end 28 of the leverfor receipt of a lever extension such as another pry bar which may,similar to the handle 16, be engageable by one handof the user so as toafford, with the bar end 13, a coordinated leveraging of the prying end12 against the dented portion, the extension 11c aflording the operatorgreatly increased mechanical advantage and also the opportunity in manyinstances of working the 'dented portion from a more comfortableposition.

The pry tool is preferably furnished in a set of three lengths of prybars 11a (see Figure 1), 11b (see Figures 2, 3 and 5), and 110 (seeFigure 5). These are desirably of essentially similar shape and havingthe same cross-sectional size over the majority of their length so as toenable the use of a single lever 16 with any of them and so as to enablethe use of any of the bars as a lever extension insertable in the leversocket 27. This interchangeability and coordinated use of parts resultsin a most economical set of tools having a maximum range of application.

In keeping with the foregoing coordinated use of the several parts, thesocket 27 is preferably formed of a tapered curved cross-section, 'asbest seen in Figures 4 and 6, so as to conform generally with thetypical shape of the prying end 12 of each of the pry bars. This curvedinterfit between the socket and the pry bar end 12, as seen in Figure 6,disposes the length of the pry bar at a proper and convenient angle asseen in Figure 5, and also prevents rotation of the pry bar extensionlie in the socket 27. Since very large mechanical advantage is attainedwith the use of the lever extension 11c, care must be exercised toprevent the breaking of the extension 110 in use when large forces areapplied to its outer end. As an important feature of the presentconstruction the interfit between the socket 27 and bar end 12 permits alimited resilient flexing of the end 12 within the socket when the leverextension is put under load so as to better distribute the strain overthe inserted end 12 of the bar. With reference to Figure 6 it will beseen that the inside curved face 33 conforms closely to the juxtaposedcurved face 34 of the socket 27. At its opposite outer curved side 36,the bar 110 recedes away from the opposed curved side 37 of the sockettowards the outer end 28 of the lever, leaving clearance for flexing ofthe bar lie when under load. Preferably the inner end of the bar 110 andthe inner end of the socket 27 fit rather closely, as illustrated, toprovide a firm engagement yet loose enough to permit easy insertion andwithdrawal of the bar. Accordingly, as bar 110 is placed under load, theinserted end 12 is permitted to resiliently flex, placing the outercurved side 36 of the bar end into progressive faceto-face contact withthe inside face 37 on the sockeso as to fully distribute the load overthe full length of the inserted end. By means of this arrangement,breakage of the bar ends 12 while used as a lever extension issubstantially completely eliminated.

In one of the important uses of the tool, the pry bar 11 is rotatedabout its longitudinal axis by force applied to the lever 16 or leverextension so as to swing the pointed end 12 against the portion of thecar body to be straightened. In such use the handle end 13 is socketedfirmly in one hand of the user for precise holding and positioning ofthe bar 11 but permitting its rotation about its longitudinal axis. Tofacilitate this holding and improve the usefulness and effectiveness ofthe tool, we preferably provide the end 13 with a ball shape, hereprovided by a ball handle 29 attached to the end 13 and which may beconveniently cupped in the palm of the hand of the user for firmgrasping of the ball while journalling the bar for rotation about itslongitudinal axis. The selectable positioning of the hand lever 16 alongthe length of the bar enables the use of the tool as a measuring device,particularly usable where the operator must Work blind in reaching adented portion, in enabling the operator to first measure the distanceof the dented portion from a convenient edge of the body metal. Thus theoperator may place the lever 16 at an edge of the body and while workingat the exterior of the body, slide the bar through the lever opening 24until the point 12 is at the dented portion to be straightened. The setscrew 25 is tightened to set the measurement and the operator may thenextend the tool around the underor back-side of thebody metal until thelever 16 is positioned at the-indexing edge of the body, when the tip 21will be precisely'located at the dent to be straightened. A mosteffective use of the tool involving this kind of operation and also onenot normally feasible with pry tools, is in straightening out a dent ina door panel, as depicted in Figure 5.- In such case an opening 31 maybe made in the bottom 32 of the door panel so as to permit the insertionof the bar 11 up through the hollow interior of the panel to positionthe prying tip 21 at the dent 14. In effecting this insertion the planeof the curvature of the prying tip may be set parallel to the plane ofthe door panel, and the lever 16 positioned on the bar so as to extendaway from the face of the door panel for convenient manual engagement.The two handles 16 and 29 afford a coordinated rotary and leveragingaction which may be applied by the user while in a comfortable positionviewing the exterior surface of the door panel to thus permit a mostprecise working out of the dented portion. After prying out the dentedportion and removal of the tool, the small opening 31 made in the doorpanel may be sealed by leading or other means well known in the art.

We claim:

1. A pry tool for smoothing out dented portions of an automobile bodyand the like comprising, an elongated bar having a prying end and anopposite handle end adapted for engagement in one hand of the user forpositioning of said prying end in juxtaposition to said dented portion,a hand lever slidably mounted for longitudinal adjustment on said bar toand from said handle end and projecting laterally from said bar forengagement in and by the other hand of the user so as to afford acoordinated leveraging of said prying end against said dented portion,and means for detachably fastening said hand lever in selectedlongitudinal positions on said bar.

2. A pry tool for smoothing out dented portions of an automobile bodyand the like comprising, an elongated bar having a curved pointed endand an opposite handle end adapted for engagement in one hand of theuser for positioning of said curved pointed end in juxtaposition to saiddented portion, a hand lever slidably mounted for longitudinaladjustment on said bar to and from said handle end and projectinglaterally from said bar for engagement in and by the other hand of theuser so as to afford a coordinated leveraging of said curved pointed endagainst said dented portion, and means for detachably fastening saidhand lever in selected longitudinal positions on said bar.

3. A pry tool for smoothing out dented portions of an automobile bodyand the like comprising, an elongated bar having a laterally offsetprying end and an opposite handle end adapted for engagement in one handof the user for positioning said prying end in juxtaposition to saiddented portion, a hand lever slidably mounted for longitudinaladjustment on said bar to and from said handle end and projectinglaterally from said bar for engagement in and by the other hand of theuser so as to afford a coordinated leveraging of said prying end againstsaid dented portion, said bar and lever being formed with a slidablepolygonal interfit permitting selectable longitudinal positioning ofsaid lever on said bar in respect to the lateral direction of olfset ofsaid prying end, and means for detachably fastening said lever inselected longitudinal positions on said bar.

4. A pry tool as defined in claim 3 wherein said laterally offset pryingend is curved from the length of said bar and tapered in cross-sectionto a pointed tip, the curvature of said end and reduced cross-sectioncooperating to permit slidable movement of said hand lever over andaround said tip onto and from said bar.

5. A pry tool for smoothing out dented portions of an automobile bodyand the like comprising, an elongated bar having a prying end and anopposite handle end adapted for engagement in one hand of the user forpositioning said prying end in juxtaposition to said dented portion, ahand lever slidably mounted for longitudinal adjustment on said bar toand from said handle end and having a length projecting laterally fromsaid bar and formed with a lengthwise extending socket opening to the'outer end of said lever for receipt of a lever extension engageable bythe other hand of the user so as to afford a coordinated leveraging. ofsaid prying end against said dented portion, and means for detachablyfastening said lever in selected longitudinal positions on said bar.

6. A pry tool for smoothing out dented portions of an automobile bodyand the like comprising, an elongated bar having a laterally offsetprying end curved from the length of said bar and tapered incross-section to a pointed tip and an opposite handle end having a ballshape adapted for engagement in one hand of the user for positioningsaid prying end in juxtaposition to said dented portion and forjournaling said bar for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a handlever slidably mounted for longitudinal adjustment on said bar to andfrom said handle end and having a length projecting laterally from saidbar and formed With a lengthwise extending socket opening to the outerend of said lever for receipt of a lever extension engageable by theother hand of the user so as to afford a coordinated leveraging of saidprying end against said dented portion, said bar and lever being formedwith a slidable polygonal interfit permitting selectable longitudinalpositioning of said lever on said bar in respect to the lateraldirection of oflfset of said prying end, and means for detachablyfastening said lever in selected longitudinal positions on said bar, thecurvature of said oflset end and the reduction in crosssection thereofcooperating to permit sliding movement of said lever over and aroundsaid tip onto and from said bar.

7. A pry tool for smoothing out dented portions of an automobile bodyand the like comprising, an elongated bar having a laterally ofisetprying end curved from the 6 length of said bar and tapered incross-section to a pointed tip and an opposite handle end adapted forengagement in one hand of the user for positioning said prying end injuxtaposition to said dented portion, a hand lever slidv ably mountedfor longitudinal adjustment on said bar to and from said handle end andhaving a length projecting laterally from said bar and formed with alengthwise extending socket opening to the outer end of said lever, asecond elongated bar formed similarly to said first elongated bar toprovide interchangeability therewith and for insertion of its taperedcurved end into said socket, said socket being formed to provide acurved interfit with said inserted end having suificient clearance froma Wall of said socket to permit the resilient flexing of said insertedend under load, so as to place said Wall in face-to-face contact withthe inserted end and distribute said load thereover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,485,487 Ferguson Oct. 18, 1949 2,485,489 Ferguson Oct. 18, 19492,485,490 Ferguson Oct. 18, 1949 2,600,723 Back June 17, 1952 2,756,621Jones July 31, 1956 2,768,544 Back Oct. 30, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 485,190Canada July 29, 1952

